…the drivers now have the chance to argue their case without paying the fine first.

In California, the idea of drivers challenging traffic tickets used to be a harrowing one. Not only was the fine on the corresponding ticket(s) required to be paid before deciding to challenge the ticket but the driver was also required to pay a fee for future possible court dates.

Recently, to the relief of many, that all changed.

Public outcries of drivers losing their licenses over unpaid traffic tickets led the leaders of California’s court system taking emergency action. In an unanimous vote, judicial policymakers voted to end requirements that drivers pay their fine(s) on unpaid tickets before being allowed to challenge them in court.

In the past, drivers faced with daunting unpaid traffic and parking tickets that outweighed their means have continued to drive while navigating court dates and fee. Since 2006, this old process had led to nearly five million Californians having their licenses suspended. Unpaid tickets have soared in cost in the past ten years as the state of California has attached a variety of fees and interest charges to these tickets to help pay for various programs across the state. As one example, a ticket for running a red light was a $103 in 1993 and had risen all the way to $489 in 2012. All because of fees tacked on by the state of California.

The ruling by the Judicial Council effectively ended what was called a “pay-to-play” system. In this system, drivers with tickets were forced to pay their fines before contesting the ticket. Under the previous rules, the fine acted as bail for the driver before they could even move forward with contesting it in court. More fees would accumulate and often drivers faced a dilemma: Pay rent or risk losing your driver’s license by not paying mounting fees.

With this new ruling, the drivers now have the chance to argue their case without paying the fine first. Yes, court fees may still apply but at least now the driver has the opportunity to contest this traffic violation without having to possibly dole out hundreds of dollars up front.

Keep in mind that though the rule has changed, it doesn’t necessarily give relief to drivers who have already missed their first court date due to failure to pay. Judges will also still be able to use their discretion to charge “bail” if they believe the driver won’t show up for trial. In these situations drivers would still have to pay the full cost of the traffic violation before receiving the right to challenge it.

Technically this new rule is effective now but courts have until Sept. 15 to fully comply. This deadline provides ample opportunity for the courts to ensure their forms and websites reflect the new rule. The new ruling is a great first step in addressing the access to justice issue that has hindered many drivers over the years. The focus can now shift to other issues such as reducing the cost of delinquent fines, examining better payment plans, and hammering out the reinstatement of drivers licenses.

With this ruling, state legislators are finally paying attention to a broken traffic violation system.

For years, fees mounted as drivers were unable pay simple parking tickets all because of what was required to contest it. Mistakes can also occur within the system, whether it be by law enforcement, court system, or the postal carrier. People were essentially being forced to pay before a due process even took place. Under the old system a driver could be “guilty until proven innocent” just based on the fact of them having to pay the fine first. Now, with the new ruling, drivers can contest the ticket without facing the guilty suspicion and paying the fine beforehand.

Still, the new ruling has its fair share of opponents. $10 Billion in unpaid traffic tickets is still owed to the state of California. Opponents argue that not enough is being done to alleviate the money owed by the less financial fortunate of the state. Though the Judicial Council eliminated the action of paying the fine up front when contesting the ticket it doesn’t solve the issue of larger court fees and late fees of the tickets.

Many people, including judges, fear that this new rule will inundate court courts with request for trials. These people believe it will waste the time of court employees and law enforcement officials, preventing them from utilizing their resources to their full extent.

In the end, this new ruling is at least providing an opportunity for drivers to initially take action without their wallets taking a hit. Or their licenses, for that matter. Instead of driving around on a suspended or invalid license due to a ticket for expired tags in which the DMV may or may not have sent out late, drivers will now get the opportunity to plead their case without having to hand over a fistful of dollars before the process plays out.

Many are embracing this new rule as long overdue and are welcoming it as a development in the right direction. In a flawed system in which ticket upon ticket and fines upon fines can pile up without a driver ever getting a chance to contest it, this new rule is certainly a positive step forward. For drivers in the state of California, the Judicial Council has provided a small victory in which they can rejoice.

]]>http://www.myimprov.com/new-ruling-allows-for-california-drivers-to-fight-traffic-tickets-before-paying-fine/feed/0California Traffic Tickets: How They Affect Auto Insurance Premiumshttp://www.myimprov.com/california-traffic-tickets-how-they-affect-auto-insurance-premiums/ http://www.myimprov.com/california-traffic-tickets-how-they-affect-auto-insurance-premiums/#commentsMon, 27 Jul 2015 21:02:31 +0000http://www.myimprov.com/?p=32572There are a bevy of factors that can impact your auto insurance premium, from your age to moving to a new area to your…

There are a bevy of factors that can impact your auto insurance premium, from your age to moving to a new area to your car’s security features.

Above all, however, the No. 1 factor that impacts your auto insurance premium is your driving record – hence, if you get a ticket in the state of California, your auto insurance rates are likely to increase.

Here’s a closer look at how auto insurance rates are determined in California and how tickets can affect your premium.

Here’s a look at various factors and how they impact your auto insurance:

Age: It’s common sense that older drivers have much more experience than younger drivers. Hence, younger drivers – think between the ages of 16 and 25 – are likely to pay much more for their auto insurance premiums than older ones because the thinking is that their inexperience makes them more risky to insure.

Sex: If you’re a man, there’s a good chance that you’ll be paying more for auto insurance over the course of your lifetime than if you were a woman.

Area: The likes of population, crime and accident statistics all play into how much your auto insurance premium will be. For instance, if you live in a busy metropolitan area such as Los Angeles, you’re likely to pay more for auto insurance than if you were to reside in a more rural area of California.

Driving Record: The No. 1 factor that goes into determining your auto insurance premium is none other than your driving record. Those with good driving records pay less for auto insurance than those with poor driving records.

Habits: Where, when and how you drive factor into your premiums. For instance, those that commute 45 miles to work every day are likely to pay more than those who might only drive 45 miles a week. The thinking is that the more you drive, the more likely you are to be involved in an accident.

Car Type: Is your car a newer model, equipped with all the latest bells and whistles designed to keep you safe from injury and it safe from thieves? You’ll likely see a savings on your car insurance compared to, say, sports cars or older models.

All it takes is one ticket to see a car insurance premium increase in California. Insurance.com is even kind enough to provide a calculator that will let you see for yourself how much more you can expect to pay if you’re pulled over and cited. Fittingly titled an “Uh-Oh” calculator, here’s a closer look at what the following citations can do in terms of increasing your auto insurance premium:

Failure to yield: 8.8 percent

Speeding 1 to 14 miles per hour over the posted speed limit: 10.62 percent

Speeding 15 to 29 miles per hour over the posted speed limit: 12.22 percent

Tailgating or following too closely: 13.37 percent

Improper passing: 13.65 percent

Improper turning: 14.33 percent

Failing to stop: 15.38 percent

Speeding 30 or more miles per hour over the posted speed limit: 15.9 percent

Simply put, maintaining a good driving record is the best way to avoid auto insurance increases, especially when something as seemingly minor as failing to yield can cause your rates to jump by nearly 9 percent. Here’s a look at some other ways to minimize increases:

Bundle services: Bundling your auto, home, boat, etc. under one provider can help you secure discounts.

Go back to school: Traffic school, that is. If you’re dinged with a citation, you can prevent the points from appearing on your record (thereby preventing your insurer from finding out about the ticket and upping your rates) in many cases by simply taking and passing a traffic school course. They’re good refreshers, inexpensive to enroll in and many can even be done online.

Shop around: If you think you’re being charged too much for auto insurance, regardless of your driving record, it certainly doesn’t hurt to shop around to see if there’s a better deal out there. In some cases, insurers are eager for new business and may offer more incentives.

Have You Gotten A Ticket? It’ll Cost You – On Your Auto Insurance

Tickets are somewhat of the gift that keeps on giving. Not only are you, as a motorist, required to pay the fine for the ticket, but the citation also counts against your driving record and will cause your car insurance premium to increase. After all, your driving record is the No. 1 factor that constitutes what you’ll pay for car insurance. Generally speaking, this means that the more tickets you have, the more you’ll have to pay for your car insurance premium. Too many tickets and – you guessed it – you could even be rendered “uninsurable.”

Just one ticket can lead to a 22 percent increase in car insurance costs.

Just how much does a ticket increase your car insurance premium? According to a recent report from Insurance.com – which analyzed nearly 500,000 policy quotes – just one ticket can lead to a 22 percent increase in car insurance costs. Reckless driving, for instance, was found to be the citation that led to the greatest insurance premium increase, while driving under the influence accounted for a 19 percent average increase, driving without a license an 18 percent average increase and careless driving a 16 percent average increase.

It’s worth noting that the aforementioned percentage increases are estimates – penalties certainly vary based on a variety of factors, such as driver age, status of driving record and more. Perhaps surprisingly, the Insurance.com report discovered that divorced drivers are penalized more in terms of premium increases than single or married drivers when it comes to any given offense. In fact, divorced drivers cited for reckless driving, for example, might find their premiums to increase by 7 percent more than a non-divorced driver cited for the same offense. On a related note, those who live in condominiums – as opposed to renting or being a standard homeowner – are more likely to see their premiums escalate.

Traffic Tickets and Insurance Premiums

According to the aforementioned Insurance.com report, here’s a more specific look at how much traffic tickets boost insurance premiums (on average):

Reckless driving leads all citations at 22 percent

Driving under the influence, first offense: 19 percent

Driving without a license or permit: 18 percent

Careless driving is next most penalized at 16 percent

Speeding 30 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit: 15 percent

Failing to stop: 15 percent

Improper turning and improper passing both come in at 14 percent

Following too closely (or tailgating): 13 percent

Speeding 15 to 29 miles per hour over the posted speed limit: 12 percent

Speeding1 to 14 miles per hour over the posted speed limit: 11 percent

Failing to yield: 9 percent

Operating a vehicle without car insurance: 6 percent

Seat belt citations: 3 percent

What do you do if Your Insurance Premium Increases from a Traffic Ticket?

The average car insurance premium increases for the citations listed above begs the question – just what do you do if you’ve been dinged with such a significant increase? There are several courses of action you can take:

Stay put with your current provider and learn from the citation, while eating the increased premium costs until they expire from your driving record.

Shop around to different auto insurance providers: Carriers treat citations differently, so some may be more lenient toward tickets than others. They may even offer additional discounts to get your business as a new customer. If you’re shopping new auto insurance providers, this is also a good opportunity to bundle services and utilize any applicable discounts to save money on all of your insurance needs.

Attend aTraffic School Course: If insurance companies can see that you’re taking initiative and being proactive about your driving, some may be likely to go easy on any premium increases that result from a citation. In some states, if you have a clean driving record, taking and passing a safe driving course after a citation may even prevent it from going on your driving record at all.

Increase your deductible: Another option you have is to increase your deductible. Generally speaking, the higher the deductible, the cheaper your auto insurance premium. This is a “proceed at your own risk” type of option, however, as you’ll be forced to pay more out of pocket if you have to file an insurance claim.

]]>http://www.myimprov.com/got-a-ticket-heres-how-much-your-car-insurance-premiums-will-increase/feed/0We Will Find Your V8 or Electric Soulmate!http://www.myimprov.com/we-will-find-your-v8-soulmate/ http://www.myimprov.com/we-will-find-your-v8-soulmate/#commentsThu, 23 Jul 2015 21:55:00 +0000http://www.myimprov.com/?p=32536Who knew that the keys to your car could also be the key to, well, YOU? Our short, fun quiz will help you find out which car is made for…

Who knew that the keys to your car could also be the key to, well, YOU? Our short, fun quiz will help you find out which car is made for your cruising needs, whether it’s something modern and sleek or vintage and flashy. Kick back, set the cruise control and answer each question without overthinking it – you can always have a “redo” (we won’t tell!) if you’d rather get different results. Share your score with friends and check out which of them share your four-wheeled passion. As for picking the interior of your new dream car – that’s a whole other quiz!

]]>http://www.myimprov.com/we-will-find-your-v8-soulmate/feed/0Do Safety Sensors Make Safer Cars for Any Driver?http://www.myimprov.com/do-safety-sensors-make-safer-cars-for-any-driver/ http://www.myimprov.com/do-safety-sensors-make-safer-cars-for-any-driver/#commentsMon, 20 Jul 2015 07:48:39 +0000http://www.myimprov.com/?p=32492Known as advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS, safety sensors and driving systems are becoming very common place in new cars. However, the question that is on many people’s minds…

Known as advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS, safety sensors and driving systems are becoming very common place in new cars. However, the question that is on many people’s minds is whether these systems are worth their money. Do they actually improve drivers’ performance on the road or not. If one was to ask the car manufacturers and makers of ADAS equipment, the answer would be a resounding yes. Systems like frontal collision alerts, lane drifting alarms, rearview cameras, drowsiness detection, night vision enhancement, automatic braking assistance and more all come into play to anticipate and think faster than the human driver, preventing human error versus enhancing it. Many are adaptions from what has existed in planes and jets as well as boats for years, now modified to work in land vehicles.

Car brands are not ignorant to the benefits of ADAS equipment. In fact, there has been a wholesale acceptance of these new features in the last five years in the standard car package offerings versus the option list or extras. Each new sensor, alarm and mini-radar becomes another marketing edge on the competition, which of course is causing all the options and alternatives to include the latest gizmo and system possible within cost combinations and what the market will pay for. The safety trend started with luxury cars and big European names such as Volvo and BMW, but the ADAS packages have quickly spread to even the most compact and economic cars made. In short, ADAS passive systems are becoming as standard and commonplace as wheels on a car.

The actual safety process is run by computers, of course, with mini-processors all supported by the car’s main motherboard and PCU. The combination allows the two components working together to identify the presence of predetermined risks (objects in the path of travel for example), determine the correct pre-coded solution, and trigger the appropriate response all within micro-seconds faster than the human brain does the same three steps normally. In many cases the ADAS equipment senses triggers that the average human driver fails to pick up altogether when driving in the dark or in inclement weather conditions. These systems are also adaptive in many cases and the latest models, so they adjust and improve with use from the particular driver and driving style as well. The data is saved in memory chips and applied again and again in new calculations by the processor. All of this again is in theory a huge leap in driver’s safety, and many would attest it is true anecdotally. But does the safety ring true for everyone hands down?

The risk or vulnerability of ADAS equipment is their very strength, however – the computer. At the end of the day, the computer is fallible, a human-made construct. It can only work as good as the power source, the circuitry, and the stable working environment. When those factors are compromised, the computer fails, which then leaves the driver at the mercy of basic mechanics and momentum. In most cases and cars so far this has not been a problem. However, a few cars malfunction here and there, always reminding us that even the best car computer systems are imperfect, a built-in obsolescence.

There is no question that part for part, system for system, the modern car today is a far safer vehicle than it was twenty or even ten years ago. However, perfection is something that still eludes us, no matter how many safety sensors are put on a car. At the end of the day, the driver’s skill and experience still matters, being the one controllable factor everyone can influence and make a difference with. Traffic schools, or defensive driving courses are available to you to improve your defensive driving skills or want to earn a discount on your car insurance. Further, if you’ve received a traffic ticket, safety sensors won’t make it go away, but your state’s county traffic court may allow you to complete traffic school to dismiss the citation and avoid having points added to your driving record. And, if you decide to enroll in traffic school voluntarily, your car insurance provider may award you with a safe driver discount.

]]>http://www.myimprov.com/do-safety-sensors-make-safer-cars-for-any-driver/feed/0Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About California Traffic Ticketshttp://www.myimprov.com/california-traffic-tickets/ http://www.myimprov.com/california-traffic-tickets/#commentsMon, 20 Jul 2015 07:37:15 +0000http://www.myimprov.com/?p=32489If you’ve been given a California traffic ticket, you’ll have to choose to plead either guilty, no contest or not guilty. If you plead…

If you’ve been given a California traffic ticket, you’ll have to choose to plead either guilty, no contest or not guilty. If you plead either guilty or no contest, you must pay the fine before the court date stated on the ticket.

In any case, you must tell the court of your intentions before the court date on your ticket. If you do not tell the court before that date, you risk having your license suspended and having to pay additional fines, or even worse, a warrant for your arrest.

What to Do If I Get a Fix-It Ticket in California?

If you’re given a fix-it ticket or any violation you can correct, the ticket you receive will state whether you need to pay a fine or just show proof of correction. If you must show proof of correction, you need to have a police officer, DMV service person or a court clerk sign off on the Certificate of Correction. After that, you have to go to court on the specified date with your Certificate of Correction along with payment of a dismissal fee before your violation is thrown out.

Am I Able to Take a Traffic School Course to Have Points Taken off My California Driving Record?

Yes, you are allowed to take a state-recognized traffic school if you have a valid driver’s license and your violation is a moving violation. Usually, your courtesy notice from the court will tell you if you are able to take a traffic school course. Once you’ve completed the course, your ticket will be dismissed. First time violations will likely not show up on your record. Before you sign up for a class, you should make sure that your traffic school is approved by the courts. If you are not sure, call the court to see which traffic schools are approved.

Why Should I Order a Driving Record?

It’s a good idea to be checking up on your driving record so you can be sure that there’s nothing on there that shouldn’t be. This should be done after you’ve gotten a traffic ticket so you can be sure they got it right. If they get it wrong and you end up with more points than you should, you risk facing a license suspension and higher insurance rates.

Must I Appear in Court?

Most of the time you are able to put most violations to rest through the mail, but if you’re not 100% sure, you can call a lawyer or the court clerk to find out.

In any case, you always have the right to ask for a traffic trial.

How Many Points Will I Get in a Conviction?

Each violation will bring with it a different amount of points. Moving violations or accidents where you are at fault are usually given one point each. More severe violations like a DUI and driving without auto insurance will get you 2 points. The points will stay on your record for 3 to 10 years depending on severity.

What’s My Course of Action When Given a Red Light Photo Enhancement Violation?

If you’ve received a photograph ticket in the mail, it will contain the information needed on how you can pay the fine or how you can contest it. If you want to see the photo, you can check it on most county websites, or you can call and arrange to go in and see them. If you’re not the person in the photo, you will be given instructions on how to move forward.

Do Traffic Tickets Cost the Same Everywhere in California?

The answer is yes and no. Usually, traffic tickets will vary in price by county.

A traffic ticket bail and penalties schedule is made by the state for the counties to follow, but some counties are able to go over the fines set by the state. You may also face other penalties and fees given by each county. You can find out more by checking our California Vehicle Code page.

Will I Have My License Suspended for Too Many Points on My Record?

In California, they have what is called a Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS). In this system, you will lose your driving privileges for these point totals below:

Four points in a period of 12 months.

Six points in a period of 24 months.

Eight points in a period of 36 months.

Your points can add up fast at a rate of 1 point per moving violation and 2 points for more serious violation. For more details on the points system, please visit our California’s Point System page.

Should I Get a Lawyer?

In California traffic court, you are allowed to represent yourself, or you can get a traffic ticket attorney. If you are at risk of losing your driver’s license, it is advised that you hire a traffic ticket attorney. You will not be assigned a lawyer for traffic tickets.

If you’ve gotten a misdemeanor traffic ticket, it’s recommended that you hire a lawyer. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the court will assign one to you.

]]>http://www.myimprov.com/california-traffic-tickets/feed/0The Best Way to Have Points ERASED From Your Driving Recordhttp://www.myimprov.com/the-best-way-to-have-points-erased-from-your-driving-record/ http://www.myimprov.com/the-best-way-to-have-points-erased-from-your-driving-record/#commentsMon, 20 Jul 2015 07:20:01 +0000http://www.myimprov.com/?p=32486California Point System The California DMV utilizes a point system to grade your driving record. Everyone starts with a clean record, but you will…

California Point System

The California DMV utilizes a point system to grade your driving record. Everyone starts with a clean record, but you will get points added for each violation you are cited for. The following are examples of what can cause you to accumulate points on your driving record.

Moving violations. (Traffic tickets)

Having mechanical parts of your car not working. Things such as broken taillights and inadequate child safety equipment qualify.

Reckless driving.

Driving without a valid license. (Suspended or revoked)

Being part of a hit-and-run accident.

Any kind of DUI.

Being part of an accident that caused damage of over $500.

Usually, moving violations will add one point to your driving record, but that can change based on the severity of the violation. If you get caught for reckless driving, a DUI, or excessive speeding, you’re looking at more points, fines and consequences.

Suspended CA Driver’s Licenses

In California, driving is considered a privilege and not a right. This means the DEM may suspend or take away your license if you go over a certain amount of points on your driving record.

The following shows the threshold of points for a given time period that will put you at risk of having your license suspended or revoked.

Four points in a 12 month period.

Six points in a 24 month period.

Eight points in a 36 month period.

Many people think driving record points are automatically erased one year after the violation, but this is not always the case. If you have points you are curious about, you can check out the DMV Violation Codes.

Insurance Rate Consequences

When signing up for an insurance policy, or renewing your policy, your insurance agency looks over your driving record. If you have points on your record, you will be paying more than someone who has a clean record. If renewing, you may experience a big increase in rates that may cause you to look for a new company.

Being Notified of Added Points

You will be told by the CA DMV when you have had points tacked onto your record. If you’ve gotten half the points needed before a revocation, you will get a letter in the mail from the DMV.

Once you only have one point left before a revocation, you will get a “Notice of Intent to Suspend” letter from he DMV. This means you are very close to having your license taken away.

If you happen to go over the points threshold and have your license taken away, you will get an Order of Probation/Suspension from the California DMV.

Commercial Driving in California

For those who have a commercial driver’s license in California, you will earn 1.5 times the points that a noncommercial driver would earn.

How to Clear Your California Driving Record

The biggest factor in clearing your record of points is just to wait it out. With time, each violation will disappear from your record. Here are the periods of time you can expect to wait before each violation is removed from your record:

If the violation added 1 point to your record, you can expect to wait 3 years to have it erased.

If you were found guilty of a DUI or hit-and-run, you can expect to wait 10 years before it is erased.

If you don’t appear in court, it will appear on your driving record for 5 years.

Not appearing in court for a DUI will stay on your record for 10 years.

Avoiding Points Altogether

Of course, the best way to avoid getting points is to not commit any violations in the first place. However, if you do happen to get some points, you still have options for getting them taken off your record:

A. Contest your ticket in court. If you have a strong case against your ticket, you can fight it in court. However, it should be noted that you may not be able to take traffic school to erase points if you decide to do this.

B. Enroll in Traffic School. Traffic school is the best way to have your points taken away and assure that the violation won’t be on your record. You are only eligible to take a traffic school course once every 18 months. If you have been convicted of a DUI or another serious violation, you may not be eligible.

When convicted of a traffic violation in California, you face the risk of increased insurance rates. When it comes down to it, your driving record is a guide for insurance companies to figure out how much they should charge you for your auto insurance. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to fight against any traffic violations you feel were not deserved, because anything that shows up on your driving record may cause your insurance company to increase your premium. Thankfully, there are ways for you to get the most favorable outcome in regards to your traffic violations due to the expertise of many California traffic attorneys that will have your back.

It should be noted that not every traffic offense will drive up insurance premiums. Smaller violations such as parking tickets and fix-it tickets may not actually affect your insurance rates at all. On the other hand, violations such as speeding, DUIs and reckless driving can lead to a profound increase on your insurance rates. As a rule of thumb, the more points you rack up on your driving record, the higher your insurance rates will be.

Between auto insurance policy renewals, your insurance company will analyze your driving record to adjust your rates. Thus, you may not notice an increase of your auto insurance premium until your next policy renewal.

The length of time a moving traffic violation will raise your auto insurance rates will depend on the severity of the offense. Your insurance agency will continually check your driving record, so every violation that continues to stay on your record will continue to affect your auto insurance rates.

]]>http://www.myimprov.com/how-a-traffic-ticket-affects-your-california-insurance-rates/feed/0So You Say You Want To Spend The Day In Traffic Court…http://www.myimprov.com/so-you-say-you-want-to-spend-the-day-in-traffic-court/ http://www.myimprov.com/so-you-say-you-want-to-spend-the-day-in-traffic-court/#commentsWed, 15 Jul 2015 08:06:44 +0000http://www.myimprov.com/?p=32449So you say you want to spend the day in traffic court, really? Well, here are your choices: you can pay it and plead…

So you say you want to spend the day in traffic court, really? Well, here are your choices: you can pay it and plead guilty; you can fight it and plead not guilty, or you can request traffic school if eligible because you haven’t been in the last 18 months. (California).

First of all once you’ve gotten a ticket you can go to the court website and pick a date for your arraignment, that means pleading guilty or not guilty this is not to set a trial. Once you do that then you can set a trial date if you decide to fight the ticket or if you just want to pay it or if you want to pay it and request traffic school. A plead of NOLO is the same as pleading guilty.

If you decide to request the traffic school choice… there is an additional fee over your “fine” for instance in Los Angeles courts $64 to process traffic school papers, then you can choose the traffic school (we hope you will choose us!) If you decide to set a date for trial, it’s always best to set a date as far in the future as they offer you. That gives you the best chance that the police officer might not even show up. If they don’t show up…. They usually dismiss the case. But if they do show up then you have to be prepared to fight your case. The best way to do that is with photographs, diagrams and have a concise idea of how and what you’re going to say. The police officer is the first one to speak, listen carefully to what they say, and the judge will give you an opportunity to question the police officer, then if you have no other questions and you tell your side of the story, and wait for the judges decision. If you lose you still have the right to request traffic school even though a cleric might’ve told you that you shouldn’t requested because once you try a case they know they judge doesn’t get it. You still have the right to ask you if you lose.

If you lose or lose with traffic school will go down to the clerks office and pay and they will give you about two months to complete the course. If you take the course at our great Improv Online a Traffic School… we do all the paperwork for you do not have to return to the court.

If your court required you to pay bail in order to set a trial date will get the money back in 4 to 6 weeks. Many courts are not charging in order to set a trial date check the website of your particular court. There is no extra fee to try a case.

There are only three words which are important if you try a case, credibility, credibility and oh… did I mention, credibility? Do not under any circumstance impunity integrity of the police officer or call him a liar! That’s the easiest way to lose your case on the spot.

When the judge gives you a chance to question the officer… this is a good opportunity to raise doubts. Where was the officer’s position, did they have a clear view of what you did. Is there anyway they could’ve made a mistake. Always be courteous, always be professional, and dress respectfully. You don’t have to overdress in an Armani suit, that’s too much, just show the court respect. No jeans no shorts no flip-flops.

If the judge gives you traffic school then the point that you have accrued towards negligent operator points will be hidden from the insurance company and you win, even if you lose.

]]>http://www.myimprov.com/so-you-say-you-want-to-spend-the-day-in-traffic-court/feed/0California Driving: Am I Eligible for a Good Driver Discount?http://www.myimprov.com/good-driver-discount/ http://www.myimprov.com/good-driver-discount/#commentsWed, 15 Jul 2015 02:22:35 +0000http://www.myimprov.com/?p=32440OK, so you got a traffic ticket… Look, it happens to the best of us. But now you want to avoid getting the POINTS…

OK, so you got a traffic ticket… Look, it happens to the best of us. But now you want to avoid getting the POINTS that the DMV issues for your moving violation so your insurance company does not jack you! Driving Safety is our main mission here at The Improv Traffic School, but so is keeping your insurance costs lower… and we have been doing it for decades now.

Most moving violations like speeding, running a red light, illegal U-turns and such carry points that can add up to a suspended license or even a revoked one. For instance, in California, if you rack up 4 Points in 12 months, 6 in 24 months or 8 in 36 months, you will get a nasty letter from the DMV saying “COME ON DOWN…YOU ARE THE NEXT CONTESTANT ON THE DMV HEARING OFFICER IS ALWAYS RIGHT!!” and then you have to explain WHY in the world they should let you out of their office with a valid drivers license in your wallet? Do you know what the chances of that are? Have you ever heard of the Law Firm of SLIM & NONE?

There are actually attorneys you can hire to handle your hearing, and they have been specifically trained to get you a better outcome like perhaps a “restricted license”… driving to or from work, or during hours of employment or to and from school. OR… they might be able to get you a shorter suspension.

Can YOU do this yourself? Perhaps if you understand that you have NO right to drive and do not approach your suspension hearing as if you did. We ALL have to drive to make our living really. Educate yourself online as to how to conduct yourself at a Suspension Hearing. For revocations… I highly suggest you do not handle this yourself.

So… of course we suggest that you DO NOT BREAK THE LAW in the first place, but, as the saying goes… “compost happens“. Your “Good driver discount” with an insurance company CAN be at stake with even ONE point found against you, which is why our traffic school IS a solution. Always check with your own Insurance to see, and check with your State DMV by phone or website to check out what the policy is on points in YOUR state.